{"id":5130,"date":"2023-10-27T08:32:36","date_gmt":"2023-10-27T13:32:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.acu.edu\/coatesn\/?p=5130"},"modified":"2023-10-29T00:24:46","modified_gmt":"2023-10-29T05:24:46","slug":"5130","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.acu.edu\/coatesn\/2023\/10\/27\/5130\/","title":{"rendered":""},"content":{"rendered":"

I highly encourage persons to read a newsletter\/blog that I\u2019ve added to my Iran blog, Echoing Eden:\u00a0 Christian Analysis of the Conflict in Israel<\/a>, found at https:\/\/zacharymccartney.substack.com<\/p>\n

Extended Quote of the Day, from the WSJ editorial board:\u00a0 \u201cThe Pentagon says the U.S. hit two facilities in eastern Syria that are used by Iran\u2019s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). But pinprick bombing of weapons and ammo lockers aren\u2019t proportionate to the enemy attacks.<\/strong> Iran\u2019s proxies have lobbed rockets or drones at U.S. positions at least 19 times since Oct. 17. One U.S. contractor died after suffering a cardiac event while ducking for cover. Some 21 U.S. service members have been injured. The restrained U.S. response is intended as a warning, and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin implied more could follow if the militias keep it up. No doubt President Biden aims to avoid a larger regional conflict. But a better example for restoring deterrence is former Defense Secretary Jim Mattis in Syria in 2018 when Russia\u2019s Wagner Group and Bashar al-Assad fighters attacked a U.S. military position. As Gen. Mattis told Congress, he directed the attacking force \u201cto be annihilated. And it was.\u201d The Wagner Group and other malign actors absorbed the lesson of that furious military response. The risk now is that Iran thinks it can continue to launch rockets at Americans at a manageable price. Secretary Austin also said the U.S. response was \u201cseparate and distinct from the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.\u201d But everyone paying attention knows that\u2019s not true. Why pretend otherwise? Like Hamas, the militias from Yemen to Iraq and Syria are equipped, trained and financed by the IRGC. They don\u2019t act without Iran\u2019s assent. Iran is also stirring up the West Bank and harassing Israel in the north via Hezbollah in Lebanon. Telling Americans that the strikes have nothing to do with Hamas disguises the nature of the Middle East challenge and the source of the problem. The Biden Administration deserves credit for equating Hamas with Islamic State and trying to mobilize an international coalition to eliminate the terrorist group. But without changing American policy toward Iran, the threat will persist. Mr. Biden will have to drop the fantasies of a nuclear deal, enforce sanctions on oil and missiles instead of winking at violations, and restore maximum pressure on Tehran. That could include covert aid to the dissidents inside Iran so the Ayatollahs feel pressure at home.\u201d\u00a0 See\u00a0\u201cA Weak Response to Iran\u2019s Attacks,\u201d<\/a> WSJ, 10-27-23.<\/p>\n

Oops.\u00a0 Another Hamas projectile doesn\u2019t hit its target, meant for Eilat, Israel, but slammed into Taba, opposite the Israeli side of the border.\u00a0 Identified as either a drone or missile, it fell near a medical facility in the Egyptian Red Sea resort town of Taba, and injured six people Egypt\u2019s per Al Qahera News reports.\u00a0 Images online and in Egyptian media showed a damaged building and exploded vehicles.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cFallen drone injures six in Egypt town near Israel: army,\u201d<\/a> AFP, Arab News, 10-27-23.<\/p>\n

This is what I\u2019m waiting for on 10-27 after this 10-26 story below — \u201cInformation about the specific targets and other details were not yet provided\u201d to determine if our attacks were simply the same amount of force, not enough force, or provide a real deterrent and message to the Ayatollah.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cUS strikes Iran-linked sites in Syria in retaliation for attacks on US troops,\u201d<\/a> AP, 10-26-23.\u00a0\u00a0There have been 12 attacks on U.S. bases and personnel in Iraq and 4 in Syria since Oct. 17. \u00a021 U.S. personnel were injured in two of those assaults that used drones to target al-Asad Airbase in Iraq and al-Tanf Garrison in Syria.\u00a0 So, should the U.S. conduct 16 attacks?\u00a0 Until we know more, two on 10-26 is skimpy.\u00a0 We want to deter the bad actor, not refuse to punish.<\/p>\n

Oops again.\u00a0 \u201cIDF spokesperson: Hamas\u2019 main operation base is under Gaza’s largest hospital,\u201d<\/a> I-24, 10-27-23.\u00a0 Will Iran denounce Hamas\u2019 use of a hospital as a violation of international law?\u00a0 It is Shifa Hospital.\u00a0 See also\u00a0\u201cHamas’s key operation center underneath Gaza’s largest hospital,\u201d<\/a> I24, 10-27-23.\u00a0\u00a0“Hamas routinely and in an emergency uses humanitarian infrastructure in the Gaza Strip for the benefit of its terrorist activities while utilizing the humanitarian shelter to protect its terrorists and the leaders of the terrorist organization.”<\/p>\n

\u201cIran Warns of New Fronts Against the US If Gaza War Drags On,\u201d<\/a> Bloomberg, 10-27-23.\u00a0 Considering that Iran\u2019s FM says his country doesn\u2019t control these various groups who would attack the U.S., he certainly seems to know a lot about their intentions.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I highly encourage persons to read a newsletter\/blog that I\u2019ve added to my Iran blog, Echoing Eden:\u00a0 Christian Analysis of the Conflict in Israel, found at https:\/\/zacharymccartney.substack.com Extended Quote of the Day, from the WSJ editorial board:\u00a0 \u201cThe Pentagon says the U.S. hit two facilities in eastern Syria that are used by Iran\u2019s Islamic Revolutionary … <\/p>\n

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